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Britain has a "glorious opportunity" to re-establish itself on the world stage, Boris Johnson said, in his first comments hours after Britain voted to leave the European Union.

The former London mayor and favourite to succeed David Cameron as Tory leader and Prime Minister said the UK “can find our voice in the world again”.

The speech by Mr Johnson was statesmanlike in tone, and conciliatory towards the millions of people who voted for the UK to remain within in the EU.

In the speech, flanked by Labour’s Gisela Stuart and the Conservatives’ Michael Gove, Mr Johnson said the Brexit decision was a huge opportunity for the UK.

He said: “Above all we can find our voice in the world again. A voice that is commensurate with the fifth biggest economy on earth - powerful, liberal, humane - an extraordinary force for good in the world.”

Mr Johnson directly addressed the millions of young voters who backed Remain, insisting the result did not represent a retreat into isolationism and that Britain would remain a “great European power”.

He said: “We cannot turn our backs on Europe. We are part of Europe.

“Our children and grandchildren will continue to have a wonderful future as Europeans travelling to the continent, understanding the languages and cultures, that make up of common European civilisation.

“But there is simply no need in the 21st century to be part of a federal system of government based in Brussels that is imitated nowhere else on earth. It was a noble idea for its time but it is no longer right for this country.

“It is the essence of our case that young people in this country can look forward to a more secure and more prosperous future if we take back the democratic control that is the basis of our economic prosperity.”

Mr Johnson insisted that the Brexit vote “does not mean that the United Kingdom will be in any way less united” or “less European”.

He added: “I believe the British people have spoken up for democracy in Britain and across Europe and I think we can be very proud of the result.

“To those who may be anxious at home or abroad this does not mean that that he UK will be in anyway less united nor indeed does it mean that it will be any less European.

“And I want to speak to the millions of people who did not vote for this outcome especially young people who may feel that this decision in some way involves pulling up the drawbridge or any kind of isolationism. I think the very opposite is true.”

Mr Johnson said that leaving the EU would also defuse immigration as a political issue.

“We can control our own borders in a way that is fair and balanced and take the wind out of the sails with those who play politics with immigration,” he said.

Mr Johnson paid tribute to Mr Cameron as “one of the most extraordinary politicians of our age” following the Prime Minister's decision to step down after the Brexit vote.

The former London mayor, standard bearer for the Vote Leave campaign, said Mr Cameron was a “brave and principled man” who had given “superb leadership”.